Acute Effects of Reformer, Cadillac, and Chair Pilates Appa-ratuses on Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Flexibility

Acute Effects of Reformer, Cadillac, and Chair Pilates Appa-ratuses on Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Flexibility in Sedentary Middle-Aged Women

This study looked at how different types of Pilates equipment affect heart function and flexibility right after exercise in sedentary middle-aged women. Pilates can be performed on several apparatuses, such as the reformer, cadillac, and chair, and each device places different demands on the body. However, it is not well known whether these differences lead to different short-term effects on the heart or on flexibility.

In this study, 15 women completed three separate Pilates sessions-one on each apparatus-on different days. During every session, researchers measured heart rate variability (a way to assess how the heart responds to and recovers from exercise). Flexibility was also tested before and after each session.

This information may help instructors and clinicians choose the most appropriate Pilates equipment based on individual goals.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healhty
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Reformer-based Pilates; Behavioral: Cadillac-based Pilates; Behavioral: Chair Pilates Session

Detailed Description

Pilates is widely used to improve strength, posture, and flexibility, and it may also influence how the heart responds to exercise. Many Pilates programs use equipment such as the reformer, cadillac, and chair, which provide adjustable spring resistance and allow movement in different body positions. Although these apparatuses are commonly used in fitness and rehabilitation settings, little is known about whether they create different short-term effects on cardiovascular function or flexibility, especially in people who are sedentary.

This study designed to compare the immediate effects of three Pilates apparatuses-reformer, cadillac, and chair-on heart rate variability (a marker of cardiac autonomic activity) and flexibility in sedentary middle-aged women. Understanding these effects may help practitioners choose equipment that best supports specific goals, such as improving cardiovascular recovery or increasing muscle flexibility.

Each participant will complete one exercise session on each apparatus in a randomized order. Heart rate variability will be measured before exercise, during exercise, and throughout a short recovery period to observe how the body responded and returned to a resting state. Flexibility will be assessed before and after each session to determine the immediate physical benefit of the different apparatus types.

This study may help clarify whether specific Pilates equipment provides unique physiological advantages. Such information may support more targeted exercise prescriptions for individuals who are beginning Pilates, those with limited fitness experience, or those seeking improvements in flexibility or cardiovascular regulation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Bursa, Turkey (Türkiye), 16120
    • Bursa Uludağ University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Age 40 to 60 years
• Sedentary (not engaged in regular physical activity)
• No prior experience with Pilates apparatus-based exercise
• Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known metabolic or cardiovascular disease
• Regular use of medications that influence heart rate or autonomic function
• Current smoker
• Musculoskeletal injuries or limitations that prevent safe participation in exercise
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would interfere with study participation or data collection

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Reformer Pilates Session; Participants complete a single 50-minute Pilates session on a reformer apparatus using standardized beginner-level exercises. All movements are performed under instructor supervision. This arm is part of a randomized crossover design in which all participants complete all three apparatus conditions.	Behavioral: Reformer-based Pilates; A supervised 50-minute Pilates exercise session performed on the reformer apparatus. Participants complete standardized beginner-level movements using spring resistance. The session emphasizes controlled full-body movement and postural stability.
Experimental: Cadillac Pilates Session; Participants complete a single 50-minute Pilates session on a cadillac apparatus using standardized beginner-level exercises. This arm is one condition within the randomized crossover design, and all participants perform this and the other apparatus sessions.	Behavioral: Cadillac-based Pilates; A supervised 50-minute Pilates session using the cadillac apparatus. Participants perform beginner-level exercises incorporating bars and spring systems to support controlled movement patterns targeting the upper and lower body.
Experimental: Chair Pilates Session; Participants complete a single 50-minute Pilates session on a Pilates chair apparatus using standardized beginner-level exercises. All participants complete this arm as part of the crossover structure.	Behavioral: Chair Pilates Session; A supervised 50-minute Pilates session performed on a Pilates chair apparatus. Participants complete a series of standardized beginner-level exercises using spring resistance to train core control, lower-limb strength, and stability.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)	Heart rate fluctuations are measured using a chest-strap heart rate monitor to evaluate cardiac autonomic modulation. The measurements include the average time between heartbeats, the root mean square of differences between successive heartbeats, and the standard deviation of normal heartbeat intervals. These values are analyzed using specialized heart rhythm analysis software. Increases or decreases in these values reflect changes in autonomic nervous system activity. This outcome is used to compare acute cardiovascular responses between the different Pilates apparatus sessions.	Pre-exercise; during exercise; 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes post-exercise

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Flexibility (Sit-and-Reach Test)	Flexibility is assessed using a standardized sit-and-reach box. Participants perform two trials, and the best score (in centimeters) is recorded. This measure evaluates immediate and short-term changes in lower-back and hamstring flexibility after each apparatus session.	Pre-exercise; immediately post-exercise; 40 minutes post-exercise

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 25, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 25, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): October 25, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): December 29, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 16, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: PNU-8

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No